Chapter 366: Secret Sword
Kyurem’s furious voice echoed in Rio’s mind. Rio looked at Kyurem, then glanced back at the dark entrance behind him.
"Did I misjudge this? My appearance didn’t inspire Keldeo like that certain trainer did?" Rio muttered. He had expected Keldeo to follow after all, but it hadn’t happened as he’d hoped.
"ROAR!!!"
Just then, Kyurem spat a scorching Dragon Breath. Rio was about to release Gengar and the others to block it—but an Energy Ball flew in from another direction and intercepted the attack. Rio turned and smiled. Keldeo hadn’t followed from behind—it had entered through a different passage.
"Keldeo, I’ve always believed in you. So please, believe in yourself." Rio said earnestly.
Keldeo’s eyes reddened as it looked at him. Its friendship rose from 8 to 12. Then it turned to face Kyurem.
"Kyurem, I apologize. I lied to you before—when I said I was already a Swordsman."
"But back then, I was still just an ordinary apprentice swordsman."
"So I didn’t actually have the right to challenge you. I only did it because I wanted so badly to fight you—to prove to the Swordsmen that I had grown strong enough."
Kyurem looked at Keldeo coldly. "Do you think I didn’t know that? I could sense your true strength the moment I first saw you."
With that, Kyurem let out a dragon’s roar. In the empty cavern, an archway formed from ice spikes rose from the ground, accompanied by towering ice pillars that created an arena.
"Cross through this archway once more—let me see if you have the courage." Kyurem said.
Keldeo looked at the ice archway, recalling yesterday’s ordeal. Its legs began to tremble uncontrollably again.
"Keldeo, remember your dream! Remember that the Swordsmen are still waiting for you to save them! Are you going to retreat again now?!" Rio called out loudly. "Remember all the hardship you endured to become a Swordsman!"
Hearing Rio’s words, Keldeo’s fear faded, replaced by a look of determination. It ran toward the ice archway with unwavering resolve. As it ran, its body began to glow with a crystalline blue light—as if some inner lock had been broken.
"I will never run away again!"
"I WILL BECOME A SWORDSMAN!!!"
As Keldeo crossed the ice archway, the blue light blazed even brighter. Under that light, its broken horn regrew—but the new horn was shaped more like a blade, completely different from before.
In Rio’s vision, a new move appeared in Keldeo’s skill list: Secret Sword. And in its status, a new word appeared: "Enlightenment."
"Kyurem! I’m coming!"
Enlightened, Keldeo charged at Kyurem with high spirits, spitting an Energy Ball from its mouth. Kyurem blocked it with Dragon Claw and then appeared before Keldeo in an instant, sending it flying with another claw strike.
But unlike yesterday, Keldeo quickly recovered and darted across the ice pillars, leaping behind Kyurem. It used Double Team and Hydro Pump to fight back—though Kyurem easily countered with Ice Beam.
Still, Keldeo didn’t give up. It kept fighting desperately. At one point, it managed to land a Hydro Pump on Kyurem during a gap in its Dragon Breath—only to be swatted away again.
"Is this how you plan to defeat me?" Kyurem scoffed, unleashing several Dragon Breaths at Keldeo.
Keldeo dodged frantically, barely escaping—but the last blast caught it in the shockwave, sending it to the ground.
"You truly disappoint me." Kyurem looked down at Keldeo, gathering another Dragon Breath.
Keldeo forced itself to stand, meeting Kyurem’s gaze. When the Dragon Breath came, it dodged.
"I can do this. I can do this. I CAN do this." Keldeo kept encouraging itself.
Though Kyurem was clearly holding back, Keldeo fought admirably. It dodged four or five more attacks before Kyurem finally froze it with Ice Beam.
But the ice didn’t hold for long—Keldeo’s body burst with golden light. Its horn regrew again, transforming into a golden blade. With this blade, Keldeo began to hold its own against Kyurem’s restrained attacks.
Rio nodded in satisfaction. This was Secret Sword—Keldeo’s signature divine move. Even with it, Keldeo couldn’t defeat Kyurem—but it had reached its own limit. The battle was nearing its end.
It was time to give Kyurem a surprise.
Rio reached into his belt and pulled out two Luxury Balls and one Master Ball. All three shimmered with light. Charizard, Mewtwo, and Gengar appeared beside him, looking down at the battle below.